KUCHING : PBDSB (Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru) should move forward instead of keep bringing up the old same stale story, said Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Women chief Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodie.
Instead of playing the blame game – pointing fingers to Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Masing as the reason the pitfall of the Dayak-based party, she said, PBDS, as the Dayak intellectuals, should look from the bigger perspective, under the context of pluralism.
“On a personal note, I think we need to look at things from a bigger perspective and fit in well in the context of pluralism. We need to learn and understand our past to carve our future,” told Doris to New Sarawak Tribune when contacted today.
She was responding to PBDS deputy president Major Moses Ripai on his accusation, blaming Masing for the fall of the Dayak-based party in 2004.
Doris explained the situation during the PBDS heydays back in 2004 was too overwhelmed, describing the Dayak spirit at that time had inculcated fears to those who were not in the same feathers.
“The PBDS that was established in December 1983 till October 2004 as I recalled was very Dayak centric.
“We were so engrossed then with the elation and the political audacities of our reception and the cheers from the ground and the overwhelming feeling of Dayaks.
“It had to a certain extent caused resistance too and we, deeply engulfed with enthusiasm, had failed to see Sarawak’s multiracial state during those times,” she said.
Further scrutinised, Doris felt digging up the long-gone dead story was such a waste of time.
“Narrating it now would-be finger pointing at many which I feel is not the way to move forward as PBDS is now a dead chapter in Dayak politics.
“It is history! It is likening a dead tree that cannot be resurrected.
“Hence, there is no need to try to dig it up for the sake of publicity by reviving an old controversy and an episode of the blame game in Dayak politics. We should stop the politics of pitting your kind,” she stressed.
She also reckoned that the pitfall of the party in 2004 was not about Masing fighting Tajem, rectifying that many consequential events were leading to the crack.
“It is unfair for PBDS deputy president Major (Rtd) Moses Ripai to put the blame on Masing for the fall of PBDS in 2004.
“The actual demise of PBDS in 2004 was because of the TDC that was held in Santubong on 26 July 2004, had contravened the party constitution,” she pointed out, adding that the only way was to move forward, celebrating togetherness that encompassed wider spectrum.
“It is with these regards, I believe, Masing decision prefers to move forward in togetherness and unite to fight for the interest of Sarawakians instead.
“The lesson learned and the political journey that he had travelled on and endured perhaps made him see the way forward in politics with a wider spectrum. In many ways, I can feel many who have been in that era feel likewise too.
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Instead of articulating statement stirred by emotion and sentiment that threads on racial issues, Doris advised PBDSB to move forward, and stay true and focus, serving the rakyat.
“As for PBDSB, do what you think is right for your party. Keep it intake and manage it well.
“If it is your agenda to set up a Dayak political platform as a basis to articulate the issues plaguing the Dayaks and act as the ‘’Hall of Meeting’ amongst the Dayaks intellectuals as mentioned by their deputy president, Moses in the news portal recently, then I suggest for your party to stay true to it and stay focus; move forward.
“Do not be enthralled in a blame game and especially not against another Dayak,” she said.
